Growing conditions:
Challenging! 2015: Early budbreak and erratic temperature swings. No frost, but cool, windy weather during bloom led to shatter in many varieties. Early harvest with excellent quality due to tiny berry size, while yields were miniscule due to on-going drought and poor set.

Winemaking:
We crushed into a rotary fermentor, then added RX-60 yeast 48 hours later. The must rotated every hour over 12 days prior to pressing. After malolactic fermentation, this wine was aged in American oak barrels for 20 months prior to bottling.

Tasting notes:
A delightful aroma profile best described as “spice rack” meets ripe plums. Fresh ground black pepper, bay leaf and clove predominate with rich plum notes in the background. This wine is a mouthful with an elegant sufficiency of tannins and toasty oak followed by an extended, rich finish.

Cellaring:
While enjoyable now, this intense Tannat will continue to improve with proper cellaring for another 5-10 years in the bottle with a plateau of best drinkability from 2022-2028.

Food selection:
Best match for rare beef and most spicy fare! Rich, red, sauces, Cajun, and heavy continental dishes of all types are enhanced with this concentrated Tannat.